McBain, Ed

Ed McBain is the best-known pen name for Evan Hunter, born Salvatore Alberto Lombino, a versatile and prolific American author best known for his detective thrillers. He officially changed his name in 1952 for marketing purposes. McBain was born in Italian Harlem, New York. When he was twelve he move with his parents, Charles and Marie Lombino, to Bronx where he attended elementary school and high school. He then won a scholarship to the Cooper Union School of Art. He was drafted to the Navy near the end of the Second World War where he served between 1944 and 1946. He then went on to study for a bachelor's degree at Hunter College. After trying various odd jobs he became a reader for a literary agent, working with Arthur C. Clarke, Richard S. Prather, P.G. Wodehouse and other famous authors.